48 HOURS
At first glance, one is enchanted by the vibrant color palette of
a Gerane Mooney oil. But study a piece and you'll also realize the
great detail.
The La Canada Flintridge resident prefers painting in oil only.
"I tried everything, but oil is more me," she said, "you can play
with it without messing it up."
Her subjects have been landscapes and animals, but she is more
known, she said, for her florals, which have found a perfect backdrop
displayed in the Boddy House Gallery at Descanso Gardens. She has 59
paintings in the "Jewels of January" exhibit that also features
watercolors by Carole Buss and whimsical and elegant pottery by Tenny
Lim.
Some of Mooney's works have been painted with subtle tones, but
she favors vibrant color. When she paints red, she'll use five
different ones.
"You might use them all. Each painting is different. It's just
exciting," she said.
Mooney will be on site every day, meeting gallery guests and
enjoying the art of her fellow exhibitors, she said.
"It's a lot of work getting ready for a show like this, so it's
time to relax," she said.
She took art classes in high school, but didn't have the chance to
concentrate on it during the 17 years she was raising her two
children. She and her husband, Bentley, have been married 45 years.
Now, she paints seven to eight hours a day, five days a week and
some hours on the weekends, while Bentley is on the golf course.
"The time just flies by," she said. "It's great therapy, if you
ever want to forget anything."
She began the study of French impressionistic works in 1975. At
Pasadena City College, she learned about perspective, and has
continued with 19 teachers and many workshops throughout this area.
In contrast to Mooney's oils, fellow exhibitor Buss works in
watercolor. The Glendale resident teaches painting at Descanso, and
is known for floral and nature themes painted in luminescent,
jewel-like tones. Her impressionistic works are exhibited in
collections throughout the world.
Lim brings imaginative pottery created with a variety of
techniques, including Raku, earthenware, stoneware and porcelain. For
this exhibit, she is introducing a new technique that includes fused
glass.
Design of another type also keeps Lim busy. As a Jet Propulsion
Lab mechanical engineer, she is lead designer of the Mars Exploration
Rover lander.
Gallery hours are from 10 a.m. to 4 p.m. daily. Entrance is free
with gardens admission. The exhibit continues through Feb. 6.
